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Emmerdale looks set to be lining up a storyline that could see teacher Maya Stepney groom underage teenage schoolboy Jacob Gallagher, after it becomes clear that he has a crush on her. It has already been warned by Maya’s ex Liam Cavanagh and his daughter Leanna that Maya would bring drama to the world of David Metcalfe – but just how dark are things set to get?

Jessie Grant already has concerns about her member of teaching staff flouting safeguarding guidelines to give Noah Tate a lift home in her car and the issue led to a defensive Jacob picking a fight with Noah.

Leanna soon picked up on Jacob’s evident crush on his dad’s girlfriend and she mocked him over it, little realising how deep he is actually falling. But as Jacob continues to get attention from Maya and basks in spending time with her, some fans are concerned that she might be well aware of what she is doing. Is she deliberately grooming Jacob?

Teasing her character’s potentially shadier nature, Louisa Clein, who plays her, previously said: ‘There is a lot still to explore with this character. Maya hints later on down the line that she has slightly dysfunctional parents, or certainly a mother figure that is lacking, which has created more of a desire in Maya to be adored and needed. There are things in her past that have created the person she is now.’

(Picture: ITV)

Things step up a gear when David makes a mess of Maya’s birthday by getting her a gift that lacks any heart before then spending the bulk of the day with his ex Tracy! Noticing this, Jacob drops his dad in it and seems pleased to see that Maya is upset with him.

Jacob then presents Maya with a much more thoughtful gift and is chuffed by her reaction. But as she pours a glass of champagne for the teenager, is she making a huge mistake – or are her actions deliberate? Has she already picked up on Jacob’s crush – and how might she react if he then gets ideas that there could be something romantic between them?

It looks like things are set to get murky but it remains to be seen if Maya is manipulative or merely naive.